Switch-hitters

[UK1679666180]

Is there a more overrated benefit of a player than this?

 

The majority of them are so one-sided as far as having one dominate side that the impact of a switch-hitter is minimal if he is such a weak hitter from one side of the plate.

 

I was watching the 89' clincher vs. Montreal this morning (don't ask why) and in the 9th, the Expos brought in a switch-hitter (Wallace Johnson) to face Maddux who hits .300 from the LH side and .200 from the RH side, Zimmer counters w/Mitch Williams. Williams retired him easily as Johnson bats from the RH side. What is point if he hits like a pitcher from one side and hits well from the other side? You're still basically a player that should be platooned for.

 

(Yes, there are some that hit well from both sides, but they are the exception.)

[Roast]

Its an advantage if you truely can HIT from both sides. If you cant, its pointless.

[WrigleyField 22]

[insert joke about Macias hitting from neither side]

[Roast]

[insert joke about Macias hitting from neither side]

 

How many times do i have to say it.

 

Just because someone stands at the plate with a bat, doesnt mean they are hitting.

 

and just because someone stands in a position in the field with a glove on his hand, does not make him proficient at a position.

 

 

 

:lol:

 

EDIT: doh, i thought that said either, not neither. iM SmARt

[frostwyrm]

I HATE having crappy switch hitters on the roster and a manager who adheres to rigid L/R tactics. Hendry needs to get rid of these types of players if Dusty is coming back next year.

[erik316wttn]

Is there a more overrated benefit of a player than this?

 

The majority of them are so one-sided as far as having one dominate side that the impact of a switch-hitter is minimal if he is such a weak hitter from one side of the plate.

 

I was watching the 89' clincher vs. Montreal this morning (don't ask why) and in the 9th, the Expos brought in a switch-hitter (Wallace Johnson) to face Maddux who hits .300 from the LH side and .200 from the RH side, Zimmer counters w/Mitch Williams. Williams retired him easily as Johnson bats from the RH side. What is point if he hits like a pitcher from one side and hits well from the other side? You're still basically a player that should be platooned for.

 

(Yes, there are some that hit well from both sides, but they are the exception.)

 

When we had Brian McRae leading off, it was like this. Lousy from the left side, but pretty good from the right. But, with the lack of lefties in the NL central at the time, he pretty much faced exclusive righthanded pitching, forcing him to hit lefty.

 

As I've said before, the whole lefty vs. righty thing is far too overrated.

[sweetpeteman]

Switch hitting is only a good thing if you can hit from both sides. Players like Lance Berkman, Chipper Jones, Pete Rose and so on greatly benefit from being able to do this. Meanwhile, some people, like Jose Macias, are only switch hitters in the sense that they might be able to hit a ball from either side, something most hitters can do anyways, and use that to get playing time.

 

Thats why Jose Macias needs to be proven as a bad player.

[AcesHigh]

Switch hitting is only a good thing if you can hit from both sides.

Totally agreed. People say, "he's much more comfortable hitting from the right side". Then why doesn't he do it all the time?

 

I wish Teixiera hit from the left side all the time(25 HR lefty, 0 HR righty).

[brinoch]

I agree with the sentiment. I mean, when I played, I could switch-hit -- but I'm a natural righty, and my stroke was tremendously better from the right-side. So I only hit right-handed. I think you should only switch-hit if it actually helps the ballclub. Of course, I also think that the whole Righty-Lefty thing is way overblown. And the micro-managing for the "right" match-up is quite irritating.

[katway]

One thing we are underestimating is that some switch hitters who seem to hit poorly from a certain side of the plate may actually hit worse against lefty/righty pitchers if they do not switch hit. For instance, a player may bat .330 from the left and .230 from the right and it would seem that that player should always bat left handed; however, that player may actually bat .100 left handed against left handed pitchers. In such a situation, the player should be a switch hitter.

 

In addition, speedy slap hitters can benefit from hitting left handed by virtue of being a step closer to first base. But this is only beneficial if they can hit equal to their right handed stance against right handed pitchers.

[treebird]

For instance, a player may bat .330 from the left and .230 from the right and it would seem that that player should always bat left handed; however, that player may actually bat .100 left handed against left handed pitchers.

 

I think it's pretty unlikely that anyone who's capable of hitting .330 against righties would hit .100 against lefties.